Planned Parenthood to spend in N.C.

The political arm of Planned Parenthood is planning to spend $3 million on voter mobilization efforts in North Carolina to help bring women to the polls for Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan.

Hagan faces a tough battle in November against GOP nominee Thom Tillis, the state House speaker.

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Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, told The (Raleigh) News and Observer that the Senate race there is the most important in the country. The contest already has seen more outside spending than any other.

“North Carolina is a moderate state,” Richards said. “The positions that both Mr. Tillis has taken and some of the decisions by the state Legislature are really out of step with where mainstream North Carolinians are. So for us, this is an important state to make sure women know what is at stake in November and the differences between these two candidates.”

The announcement from the abortion rights group comes as the Hagan campaign hits the airwaves with its first two ads in a seven-figure buy. The two television ads highlight legislation Hagan pushed to help North Carolina families affected by water contamination at Camp Lejeune and textile workers whose jobs were threatened by the Central American Free Trade Agreement.

Besides Planned Parenthood, Senate Majority PAC and the League of Conservation Voters are the outside groups spending money on behalf of Hagan in the race.